Pope denounces terrorism and war

After weeks of talks and contacts with politicians and diplomats to press the Vatican’s opposition to a pre-emptive military strike against Iraq, the Pope today took his case to all those who believe in God, and voiced his worry that war could unsettle the entire Middle East.

Pope John Paul II, looking wan and tired, opened his traditional Sunday remarks from his studio window overlooking St Peter’s Square by denouncing war as a way to resolve the conflict.

“For months the international community is living in great apprehension for the danger of a war, which could unsettle the entire Middle East region and aggravate the tensions unfortunately already present in this beginning of the third millennium,” he said.

“It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other - the future of humanity will never able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war.”

The Pope has had almost daily meetings with key players in the crisis over Iraq.

In his latest talks, yesterday, he discussed the war with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been trying to line up support in Europe and elsewhere for Washington’s insistence that military force must be used soon against Iraq unless Baghdad quickly and completely complies with UN disarmament resolutions.

Earlier this month the Pope sent a French Cardinal to meet Saddam Hussein to try to persuade him to heed the UN resolutions.

The Pope has also had a meeting at the Vatican with a top Iraqi government official, and with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Other efforts have included talks with the Foreign Minister of Germany, which has flatly opposed any war, and consultations by telephone with Washington.